episode_0019

Why do we learn martial arts?

The reason will naturally come down to one thing.

‘To become stronger.’

Then, what kind of martial arts should one learn?

This is also a simple principle. Since you learn to become stronger, it is right to learn strong martial arts.

So, among the martial arts of the eight sects and the martial arts of the five great clans spread across this Yeom country, which of the minimum 13 martial arts is the strongest?

It was a problem that had not been determined for a long time.

Each sect and clan’s techniques have different tendencies and characteristics.

But even so, people want to divide them into ranks.

“But…”

“The elders clashing with each other….”

“The bleeding would be quite big, wouldn’t it?….”

The damage from clashing at full power is one thing, but it’s fortunate if they win. However, if they lose, the loss is enormous. That’s why they came up with a trick. Instead of fighting directly, they make their successors fight instead.

“Look there! The plum blossom pattern…, it’s the Hwasan Sect!”

“Gasp! Jongnam!…, of all the people, those two are clashing!…”

“….”

“….”

This perception that each other’s martial arts are strong creates a sense of competition, and this competition can lead to resentment if it becomes extreme.

“Long time no see, Wi Yang-cheon.”

“Indeed. Hwa Gun-yeong.”

Respectively, the top disciples of the Hwasan Sect and the Jongnam Sect, and among the disciples of the two sects participating in this Yongbong Assembly, they are two people who boast outstanding skills.

Since their sects are geographically close, the two sects often clash in many ways, and especially since even the characteristics of their swords are different, they are sects in a recognized rivalry even within Yeom country.

“Now now, it looks like this Yongbong Assembly only has Hwasan and Jongnam. Don’t forget that we in Kunlun also have many proud disciples who are no less than you.”

“Amitabha.”

Jeong Gong-baek, the top disciple of Kunlun.

Mu Cheon-hon, the top disciple of Wudang.

Since any place that mentions swords would never fall behind, it was natural for them to be conscious of each other.

“If we’re talking about swords, you can’t leave out our Namgoong. Everyone, it’s been a while since the last Yongbong Assembly.”

“….Sword Dragon Namgoong Do-gun.”

Everyone there tensed up at the appearance of Namgoong Do-gun, the winner of last year’s Yongbong Assembly and the son of Namgoong Doryong, the head of the Namgoong Clan.

Reading that atmosphere, Namgoong Do-gun laughed exaggeratedly on purpose.

“Hahaha. Why is everyone so nervous? Isn’t the Yongbong Assembly originally a competition that exists to check each other’s skills, find shortcomings, and further refine strengths? This Namgoong Do-gun hopes to see the full power of each sect without any reservation.”

Leaving those words behind, Namgoong Do-gun led those who would participate in this competition with him and his household members inside first.

“Seriously, he’s annoying.”

“Miss Seol-lin! If you don’t behave yourself again, the head of the family will get very angry again!…”

“Hmph, do I care what Dad says?”

The participant from the Tang Clan, Tang Seol-lin, frowned, looking at Namgoong Do-gun, who acted as if he was the absolute strongest, with a disapproving look. Of course, the household member assisting her scolded her in a panic, but unfortunately, it didn’t have much effect.

Like this, as people from each sect and clan began to gather one by one, a man with black hair and a mask appeared here.

* * *

“Grandma Wang, today I might not be able to help with lunch…, and maybe not with the dinner business either.”

“Where are you going?”

“There’s something I want to see.”

“Sightseeing…, are you thinking of going to the Yongbong Assembly?”

The day of the Yongbong Assembly.

I said to Old Man Wang while helping with the preparations for lunch business.

Old Man Wang, recalling that I was a swordsman with a sword, quickly noticed what I was going to do and where I was going and said.

“That’s a place where disciples with outstanding skills from each sect gather. Are you going to be okay? I heard that if the competition gets too heated, it can lead to serious injuries.”

“If I get hurt by kids, I should just go die.”

I’m serious.

I’ve been passing by and occasionally saw sect disciples these past two weeks, and if I lose to those guys, I really have to go die because their skills are so terrible.

‘….No, that’s not it. It’s not that their skills are terrible. But they were still stronger than Abel.’

On average, the disciples’ average stats are around 100.

Leon’s stats before using cheats were obviously no match, and they are strong enough that even Warrior Abel or Warrior Ragnarok could not easily handle them.

But my current state is that I’ve regained about half of my power, so even if you only consider the large stats, it’s 5 times that of those guys.

That kind of me loses to kids? Then I’m really bad, so there’s no hope for me.

‘In that sense, the elders and sect leaders probably have an average stat of around 200 on average.’

The Sword King’s stats were around 300 on average, so the Sword King would be at least more skilled than the elders and sect leaders.

Baek-ryeon is similar to the sect’s elder or less than that? Something like that.

Of course, this is a simple stat comparison, and if we go into actual combat, the Sword King would be more skilled than simple sect leaders because of the various techniques and the ultimate sword techniques gained through more than 300 years of experience.

Baek-ryeon is…, I don’t know. The elders and sect leaders were already killed by the Demonic Cult Leader in the game, so there’s no information to speculate on.

“I’ve come to pick you up. Leon, young hero.”

“You’re here. Grandma, I’m going~”

As he said, I followed Advisor Yang, who came to pick me up, to the tournament venue where the Yongbong Assembly was being held.

As expected, a considerable number of people gathered to watch the competition or do business with the people who gathered, creating a sea of people.

“There are a lot of people.”

“Expectations for Young Master Cheon-woo are very high.”

“….Leave it to me.”

Is it starting already.

Well, with so many people, there will be many eyes watching, so it’s better to be careful.

I adjusted the sword hanging on my waist.

I’ve decided on the concept I’m going with.

I’m going with the taciturn soldier concept. Soldiers don’t talk. They only show it with actions.

That’s what the public service worker says.

“The tournament will be held in a total of 3 rounds. So, victory is important, but proper distribution of power is also important.”

“I understand.”

“…I’m only going this far. I’ll be cheering for you.”

Indeed, is it only the tournament participants who can go beyond this point?

I nodded slightly at Advisor Yang and then entered the venue.

‘Oh…, the attention is no joke.’

Everyone is wearing clothes that symbolize their respective sects or clans, but I’m just wearing simple clothes that you can see on the streets, so I stand out even more.

…In addition to that, I’m also wearing a mask that completely covers my face.

“What’s that? Some common vagrant? And what’s with that mask?”

“Miss Seol-lin! Your mouth! Your mouth!!”

“….”

Wow, there’s a young lady who doesn’t hold back.

Heh.

Well, since I don’t want to get deeply involved anyway, I just sat down in an empty seat in the corner.

“Which side is that person from?”

“They don’t seem to be with anyone.”

“Judging by the sword on their waist, are they a swordsman?”

“But what does that mask mean?”

Thinking about it, if this tournament has become a battle of pride between sects and clans for quite some time, then most of the people here would have met each other many times, so if a completely unknown third party suddenly appeared, such a reaction is understandable.

In the meantime, I saw one person running towards me.

They seem to be from the organizers.

“To confirm that everyone has gathered, I will call out the members of each sect and clan. Please answer when your name is called!”

They were able to confirm who each person was by calling out their affiliations and names one by one.

And the very last turn.

“From the Yeom Army, Jang Cheon-woo!”

“….”

Instead of answering, I stood up from my seat.

At the same time, as my identity was revealed, bewilderment and surprise arose in everyone’s eyes.

“From the Yeom Army?….”

“The Yeom Army, which has never participated before, is sending someone.”

“Interesting. Interesting.”

I’m not interested, you jerk.

That guy from Kunlun seems to have a strong competitive spirit.

“The Yongbong Assembly will be held over a total of 3 days. As you know, the order will be decided by drawing lots. The matches will be single matches, and if an attack continues even after a surrender declaration, you will be disqualified. The conditions for victory are to receive the opponent’s surrender or to make them unable to fight. However, killing is not allowed, so please be careful.”

The organizer who announced the minimum tournament rules turned around and left.

“From the Yeom Army…., does the Yeom Army have no talent? They only send out such a shabby guy.”

“Miss Seol-lin!…, Please watch your words!….”

I guarantee you, that woman taking care of that Tang Clan’s lady named Seol-lin is a bodhisattva.

There’s no way she could handle that personality otherwise.

Even though I just met her, I can immediately grasp what that girl’s temper is like, but to keep sticking by her side….

If it were me, I would have quit a long time ago.

“?”

“Were you called Jang Cheon-woo from the Yeom Army? Nice to meet you. I am Namgoong Do-gun. I am not much, but I am called a Sword Dragon.”

In the meantime, there was a strange person talking to me.

Namgoong Do-gun, the participant from the Namgoong Clan.

When I just kept staring at him, the other Namgoong people behind him started to get angry, saying that I was ignoring their young master, but Namgoong Do-gun raised his hand to stop them.

“Can’t you talk? Or are you not willing to talk?”

“….”

“Hmm…, that’s troublesome. Well, after all, swordsmen communicate with swords. I look forward to our sword dance.”

He extended his hand as if requesting a handshake.

Frankly, if I ignored him this far, I don’t know what the guys behind him would do, so I decided to accept the handshake.

There’s no reason to make trouble for no reason.

“….Hmm. Indeed.”

“….”

Thwack

“Oh my.”

No, you piece of shit.

Are you a crazy gay? Why are you twitching your hand while shaking hands? Are you crazy?….

Suddenly, I feel a chill all over my body.

Moreover, he licked his lips as if he was disappointed and looked at me, so I unknowingly jumped up from my seat.

“Then we will draw lots!!! The first match is…, Hye-ang from Shaolin and Jang Cheon-woo from the Yeom Army!!”

* * *

In the high spectator seats made to view the entire martial arts arena, were the sect leaders and clan leaders from each sect and clan, or those who came to this place as representatives of the sect leaders. And when the first match was decided, they laughed and said.

“Huh, Shaolin from the beginning.”

“Moreover, since the opponent is from the Yeom Army, he will come up without any major changes.”

“But Shaolin only has one participant?”

Usually, in the Yongbong Tournament, they send out at least 5 disciples, and up to 10 disciples if there are many.

But in this Yongbong Tournament, Shaolin and the Yeom Army were the only ones who sent out only one person.

Those who gathered here to know the situation of the Yeom Army could guess it even if they didn’t say it, so they understood it, but the decision of Shaolin to send only one boy to the tournament was quite unexpected, so they looked at the Shaolin Abbot.

The Shaolin Abbot smiled at the gazes and said.

“That child is enough.”

“Enough?….”

“Although he is still a child, his skills and depth already surpass the top disciple. If we take the time to fully…, fully melt down only the inner strength…, the next abbot will be that child.”

“Is it to that extent?”

The skills of the disciple that the Shaolin Abbot praised so much.

That’s why everyone there paid attention.

Without even thinking about the impending upheaval.

* * *

“I am Hye-ang.”

“….Jang Cheon-woo.”

“You could talk?”

“I don’t say unnecessary things.”

We stood facing each other on the martial arts stage.

Hye-ang

Level: 1

Strength: 156

Agility: 95

Energy: 102

Technique: 130

Durability: 105

‘….Is he a monster?’

This, isn’t this the strongest guy in this martial arts tournament? Strength is 150?

The Namgoong guy I saw earlier had a strength of about 130? No, overall it’s higher than Namgoong? Did I meet the championship favorite from the start? Do I have to send the championship favorite to hell from the beginning?

‘Sigh…, okay. It’s your twisted fate, so don’t blame me.’

I sighed inwardly and tore off a part of my clothes to tightly tie the scabbard so that it wouldn’t fall off.

Seeing that action, the opponent tilted his head and asked.

“May I ask what you are doing now?”

“I’m making sure the scabbard doesn’t fall off.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“Because if the scabbard falls off, you’ll be cut.”

Hearing my words, the guy’s expression went blank as if he had been hit hard on the head, and he looked at me.

Then he chuckled and took a stance and said.

“Then I will try to make you draw your sword from the scabbard.”

Don’t do that. You’ll die.

As I was thinking that, the guy threw a punch into the air.

As I was watching, wondering what he was doing,【Intuition】activated at that moment.

“!”

Thud!!

What was that just now? Pressure of fist? Did he perhaps unleash pressure of fist? I instinctively raised my sword to block it, but I felt something heavy and invisible fly and hit the sword and scatter. Is it a technique similar to【Space Rend】that I use?

But judging from the delay that occurred, it doesn’t seem like it.

“Baekbo Sin-gwon. A Shaolin fist technique that can attack even from beyond a hundred steps.”

“….Hoo.”

Attacking even from beyond a hundred steps…

Judging by the slight delay between attack and strike, it seems he can’t cut instantly like my slash….

Then evading is totally possible.

“Then I will continue.”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Pow!!

Like water flowing, he naturally throws his fist and shoots out the pressure of fist.

Without any slight error due to distance, the accuracy was very high as if I was right in front of him.

Some of the pressure of fist that grazed me and hit the arena, and it shattered like tofu, so the attack power is also very high.

“As expected of Shaolin! They’re completely pushing forward!”

“I bet on Shaolin to win!!”

Of course, the general public, who don’t know such details, just cheered happily.

…Wait?! There was match prediction?! I want to do it too!! I’ll bet on myself!!!

“….Hmph!!”

In the meantime, the guy stopped attacking and stomped on the ground.

The true foot was transformed into a shockwave, giving the illusion that the ground was undulating.

If it was a normal person, they would lose their balance with this, but it had no meaning to me.【Sword King Footwork】is a footwork that allows you to maintain your body balance anytime, in any situation.

“Even this doesn’t work!”

“….”

“Tch…, I will continue!”

Since I was just staring while keeping the taciturn concept, I don’t know how he took it, but he became impatient and continued his attack.

“Baekryeon Sin-gwon!”

A divine fist that delivers 100 blows in one breath.

When he combines that with the Baekbo Sin-gwon he showed a little while ago, a ridiculously absurd technique was born that delivers 100 attacks from beyond a hundred steps.

Bang!!!

“This, this much!…”

“Ah, that line is a flag.”

“!”

I broke through the smoke screen created by the explosion caused by the 100 consecutive attacks and entered the inside of the guy.

Attacking from beyond a hundred steps, putting in 100 consecutive strikes at once,

The Sword King’s secret techniques that I learned are not such flashy techniques. Also, there are no such flashy techniques.

There is only cutting and stabbing.

The most basic and fundamental action that a sword can do as a sword.

“Head.”

“!!”

Swooooooosh!!!

This is nothing special.

Just a technique that everyone knows, everyone can do, and everyone does.

But a technique that no one trains to the extreme.

“Down Strike.”

Clang!!!

Much faster than the guy’s defense,

Just simply faster,

I brought down my sword and shattered the opponent’s head.

“….”

“Uh…, w, winner!! Yeom Army! Jang Cheon-woo!!!”

Yay. I won.